Bajaj Freedom 125 Initial Test Ride Report – Starting the Era of CNG-Powered Motorcycles

The Bajaj Freedom 125 provides a platform for CNG-powered motorcycles, marking a milestone in eco-friendly two-wheeler technology. Initial test insights reveal promising performance.     
 

The unique feature of the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG motorcycle is its impressive mileage. Its fuel efficiency is 102 km/kg.

With huge export ambitions, Bajaj is setting a new milestone in automobile history with the launch of the Freedom 125 in India. The Freedom 125 CNG will be remembered in history as the one that started it all—the first, the Pratham, the Primera, the firsteiro, the premiere. Here's our view of the world's first CNG motorcycle.     
 

Bajaj Freedom 125 First Ride Review 

For a motorcycle like the Bajaj Freedom 125 CNG, price matters, so let’s start from there. The base variant starts from Rs 95,000 and goes up to Rs 1.10 lakh (Ex-showroom). Notably, Bajaj matched the base price with other luxury 125cc sports motorcycles, which is commendable given the added cost and complexity of CNG technology. The base range is likely to be at an appealing level, so bike enthusiasts will be interested, while the top end will appeal to individual customers.    

Bajaj chose not to launch its first CNG offering in a casual manner. Besides the new CNG feature, the Freedom 125 stands out as a luxury motorcycle in its own right. Adding toe guards with an exposed mesh frame, thick tank shroud, beefy front fork cover and stylish alloy wheels. Moreover, the attractive lighting elements, vibrant colours, and exceptional seat height give it its great appeal again.     
 

In terms of features, Bajaj has equipped the Freedom 125 with a complete digital negative LCD instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity. LED headlights, LED taillights, side-standing engine cut-offs, USB charging sockets and sturdy hooks add to the practicality. All of these features add up to more than the Freedom 125’s utility and versatility, along with its impressive fuel economy.     
 

Engine, Specs and Mileage  

The Bajaj Freedom 125's distinguishing feature is its all-new 124.58cc single-cylinder Bi-fuel unit engine that can run on both CNG and petrol. This 124.58cc single-cylinder unit achieves a mileage of up to 102 km/kg on CNG and 67 km/litre on fuel. Thanks to its sloper design, Bajaj is able to integrate the CNG tank under the seat. However, the full CNG system adds significant weight, bringing the bike's kerb weight to 147.8kg.  

The CNG tank weighs 16 kg and can hold 2 kg of CNG gas. It is securely integrated into the bike's trellis frame. This design enabled Bajaj to reposition the air box into the fuel tank area, hence pushing a small 2L fuel tank towards the right. Bajaj Freedom 125 has a total range of 330 km, which is very useful for motorcycles. Switching between CNG and petrol modes is seamless when shifting on the left-hand switchgear.     
 

There is a noticeable performance difference between the CNG and petrol modes. Simply put, the petrol option is like a 'sport' mode, while the CNG is more 'eco' oriented. The Bajaj Freedom 125 is compared to the 125cc of other motorcycles. It exhibits slightly lower performance, which is more of its 147.8 kg kerb weight on the bike's 5-speed gearbox, which can improve with more kilometres.     
 

We did extensive mileage testing on the motorcycle. However, due to a mismatch of CNG injection pressure, our test result is 85 km/kg on CNG, which is different from Bajaj's claim of 102 km/kg. We plan to be accurate 100% to 0% mileage check in the future for accurate readings. Even at a top speed of 85 km/kg, the Bajaj Freedom 125 offers significantly lower running costs than other motorcycles in India, all thanks to its cheaper CNG fuel.     
 

Ride, handling and comfort: 

Bajaj Auto prioritised comfort with the Freedom 125. One of the tallest in the entire world, the seats offer plenty of space. At 825 mm, the seat height suits perfectly ( 182 cm tall individual). The bike is comfortable to ride, with a good seat and comfort while driving that includes handlebars positioned well for relaxed city riding, which is its primary use.     
 

The bike felt stable, whether on city streets or at highway speeds. The Freedom 125 maintains comfort on bumpy roads, handling irregularities well. While we noticed occasional turbulence from the front suspension during the short time we spent with the bike, overall, the suspension system felt assured and confident, with decent braking performance for the segment. Also, the Freedom 125’s intended speed was high.     
 

Conclusion 

Bajaj has put a lot of effort into the Freedom 125 CNG motorcycle, which is reflected in its stylish specifications. Despite the addition of new CNG technology, it is priced competitively with its 125cc counterparts. We guess that with the Bajaj Freedom CNG, we encountered a small bit of energy. However, the issues are not anticipated with the product models available to these customers.     
 

We believe that Bajaj could have increased the mileage further by adding an engine stop/start system to its first CNG motorcycle.     

Additionally, an integrated engine kill switch and navigation feature with Bluetooth connectivity would have been useful. Bajaj also needs to highlight more safety features to reassure potential customers and address concerns raised about this motorcycle.     
 

Although the Bajaj Freedom 125 does not have a major deal breaker to deter its intended audience, we believe Bajaj has a winning factor with the Freedom 125. It represents the future of CNG motorcycles, exceeding our expectations so well.     
 

Curious to know about the Revolutionary TVS Jupiter CNG Scooter Coming Soon   

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